Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo How do YOU listen to music with a threatre system?

For me, too, it depends on the recordings and occasions. But in general, I love the way the DPL II Music mode presents the 5.1 sound in our room. I did tweak its parameters a bit, though -- e.g., increased the "Center Width" a bit which lowered the center channel level. When I don't use the DPL II Music mode, I listen in the straight 2.1 configuration with the receiver doing the bass-management -- 80Hz crossover; front speakers set to "small," although they are full-range floorstanders.

Jobster,

In my books, the best way to enjoy music is 2 channels, 2.1 if you prefer a heavier sound to come through. Sit yourself in a sweet spot of your room, play your favourite cd and close your eyes. A good system should project the image as if the band is playing right in front of you with distinct separation of the instruments. If your system is able to do that, it is very likely that you'll be over the moon with the sound when you switch to 5.1 for your movies.

Enjoy!!

Pinenuts

A properly calibrated 2.1 system won't sound heavier than a pure 2 channel system, but fuller.

In case anybody is wondering about the difference between heavy and full, here is the official Stereophile glossary for descriptors of sound quality.

nice link! But there is no "full" definition.

Oh, really??? Obviously, I didn't double-check before I posted it... LOL

Here are several entries relevant to Axiomites:

bright, brilliant The most often misused terms in audio, these describe the degree to which reproduced sound has a hard, crisp edge to it. Brightness relates to the energy content in the 4kHz-8kHz band. It is not related to output in the extreme-high-frequency range. All live sound has brightness; it is a problem only when it is excessive.

detail The subtlest, most delicate parts of the original sound, which are usually the first things lost by imperfect components. See "low-level detail." Compare "haze," "smearing," "veiling."


Hmm... metallic is not listed, either.

I also noted that under laid-back it said "see Rocket".

Thanks for the link. I learned a new word from there:auronihilist (pronounced "auro-nigh-illist") A person who believes that all components that measure the same, sound the same. A meter man.

Do we have any "meter men" here?

I could name a few of those.

But why would I...we are just a warm and friendly family here. We stand up for fellow Axiom-ites clearly seen in you know...cough..cough

... heretofore known as the P.C. thread.